Again, watch most LFS statements! I have 2 here that DONT run on central flitration... one has one tank they keep their discus in... they change water every other day 40-50%... They will buy and sell local bred or Hans but wont take the local breds when they have a shipment of Hans...
And the better one (Azalea Aquariums) runs sponge filtration w/ BB tanks for some.... HOB with thing gravel in the others.... they change the gravel tanks water daily 50%... NONE of his tanks are central filtration whether its Discus or tetras! He DOES NOT import wilds or anything sell anyones discus but Hans. Again his fish are always PRIME!
Neither of these 2 stores are chain stores... both are mom and pop pet stores and Azalea Aquariums ONLY stocks fish and NO OTHER PETS! So his shop is definitely a specialized one. He is NOT cheap by any means because of the quality of his fish. Also he is the ONLY store in my local area that sells Stingrays.... I stare at them everytime I go there wanting to buy one but he even said that I shouldnt buy one if I have a planted tank... So he ONLY sells the fish to people who are ready for them... I heard him run people away that want to buy discus that didnt have the tank capacity to hold them and didnt know better...
I just hear on the board the LFS discus are bad so often on here... ALL of mine have been in LFS at some point or another and I agree that some LFS dont know how to keep them but I do know in VA 3 stores I trust (one more is 2 hours away). All 3 of these stores sell Hans Discus and do care well for them.
Fin and Feather - Richmond, Va
Azalea Aquariums - Richmond, Va
Animal Jungle - Virginia Beach, Va
I actually got my wilds from Animal Jungle. They import wilds and like the other 2 stores in Richmond they also run independent filtration on their discus tanks.
Also on a final note, if you learn the order/shipping days at your LFS you can catch the fish/plants BEFORE they ever touch the tanks at your LFS! This has been the BEST way for me... If I ever can do it I buy things off of the order and that way the fish are not acclimating... getting moved... acclimating again and so on... Plants and fish seem to like that better.